Academic resilience and learning engagement: Peer relationships and learning motivation as mediators

In the postpandemic era of COVID-19, researchers are paying attention to the quality and sustainability of education. By applying self-determination theory, we examined the relationship between students’ academic resilience and learning engagement, with peer relationships and learning motivation acting as mediators. We conducted an online survey and obtained valid responses from 710 students of large universities in eastern China. The results showed that academic resilience positively predicted learning engagement, both directly and indirectly through the individual and chain mediators of peer relationships and learning motivation. Our study has enriched the application of self-determination theory and enhanced understanding of how to improve students’ academic resilience.